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DOI: 10.7550/rmb.28124
Stem and root anatomy of two species of Echinopsis (Trichocereeae: Cactaceae)
Abstract. This study characterizes and compares the stem and root anatomy of Echinopsis calochlora and E. rhodotricha
(Cactaceae) occurring in the Central-Western Region of Brazil, in Mato Grosso do Sul State. Three individuals of each
species were collected, fixed, stored and prepared following usual anatomy techniques, for subsequent observation in
light and scanning electronic microscopy. Echinopsis calochlora revealed uniseriated epidermis, while E. rhodotricha
had patches of bisseriated epidermis; all species showed thick cuticle, parallelocytic stomata at the epidermis level, and
a well-developed hypodermis. Cortical and medullary bundles are present in the studied species, as well as mucilage
cells in the cortex region. The secondary phloem is composed by sieve tube elements, companion cells, axial and
radial parenchyma. Sclereids were found at the outer regions of phloem in the roots. The secondary xylem is non
fibrous in the stems of E. calochlora, and fibrous in the stems of E. rhodotricha and in the roots of both species. Many
of these characteristics are commonly found in Cactaceae, and represent important adaptations for survival in xeric
environments.
Key words: cortical bundles, epidermis, non fibrous wood, wood anatomy.
Resumen. Este estudio está enfocado a caracterizar y comparar la anatomía de tallos y raíces de Echinopsis calochlora
y E. rhodotricha (Cactaceae) que habitan en la región centro-oeste de Brasil, en el Estado de Mato Grosso do Sul.
Se recolectaron 3 individuos de cada especie, los cuales fueron fijados, almacenados y preparados siguiendo las
técnicas comunes de anatomía, para observarlos en microscopía de luz y electrónica de barrido. Echinopsis calochlora
mostró epidermis uniseriada, mientras que la de E. rhodotricha fue biseriada; todas las especies presentaron cutícula
gruesa, estomas paralelocíticos a nivel de la epidermis y una hipodermis bien desarrollada. Se presentaron haces
vasculares corticales y medulares en las especies estudiadas, así como células mucilaginosas en la región cortical. El
floema secundario está compuesto de elementos de tubo criboso, células acompañantes y parénquima axial y radial.
Se encontraron esclereidas en las regiones externas del floema en las raíces. El xilema secundario es no-fibroso en
los tallos de E. calochlora y fibroso en los de E. rhodotricha y en las raíces de ambas especies. Muchas de estas
características están presentes comúnmente en especies de Cactaceae, lo que representa adaptaciones importantes para
la supervivencia en ambientes xéricos.
species belong to Cactoideae, and 6 genera were recorded Paradermal and transversal sections of the dermal
for tribe Trichocereeae: Arthrocereus (A. Berger) Backeb. system of the stem median region were prepared for
et F.M. Knuth, Cleistocactus Lem., Discocactus Pfeiff., scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. Samples
Echinopsis Zucc., Gymnocalycium Pfeiffer in Pfeiffer et were dehydrated, critical-point dried, mounted on aluminum
Otto, and Harrisia Britton, all being very poorly studied, stubs, and coated with gold-palladium in a sputter system.
especially in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul. SEM analysis and electron micrographs were made with a
Echinopsis is one of the largest genus of Trichocereeae, JEOL JSM 5800 scanning electron microscope.
composed by 128 species distributed in several regions of
South America, and due to the large number of species, Results
it shows a very controversial circumscription (Anderson,
2001). Echinopsis calochlora K. Schum. is endemic to the Stem. Uniseriate epidermis (Fig. 1) occurred in
high altitudes of the Maciço do Urucum (Eggli, 2002), in photosynthesizing regions of the stem, as well as in
western Mato Grosso do Sul, and was recently included apical and median regions. It was composed by square
in the Brazilian list of threatened species (IBAMA, 2008), to rectangular cells in cross sections, with thick cuticle.
because its habitat has been intensively exploited, for iron Echinopsis rhodotricha showed patches of bisseriate
and manganese mining (Silva et al., 2000). Echinopsis epidermis in the median region (Fig. 2), formed by
rhodotricha K. Schum. has a broader distribution, periclinal divisions of epidermal cells, rarely observed in
occurring Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina (Anderson, E. calochlora.
2001). This work describes comparatively the anatomy of Parallelocytic stomata were found in both species at
stem and root of E. calochlora and E. rhodotricha. the same level of epidermal cells in E. calochlora (Fig.
1) while E. rhodotricha had sunken stomata (Fig. 2).
Materials and methods Substomatal chambers crossed the hypodermis (Figs. 1, 2).
The phellogen was originated in the epidermis.
Individuals were collected in rocky outcrops and Peridermis covered the non photosynthesizing portions
sandy-clay formations from natural populations as of the stem (Figs. 3, 4); composed of pheloderm formed
follows: E. calochlora at Corumbá County, in Pantanal by rectangular cells in cross section, with primary walls.
(voucher number CGMS 17536; J. S. Garcia 54), and E. Cork had layers of cells with suberized walls that alternate
rhodotricha, at Porto Murtinho, in Chaco (voucher number with layers of cells with lignified walls, which are very
CGMS 17590; J. S. Garcia 61). Vouchers were deposited numerous in E. rhodotricha (Fig. 4).
at the Herbarium - CGMS/UFMS, Federal University of We observed a collenchymatic hypodermis in the stem
Mato Grosso do Sul. (Figs. 1, 2, 5), composed of cells with irregularly thickened
For the qualitative anatomical study of the stem, 3 primary walls, connecting through ramified channels.
individuals of each species were sectioned at the basal, Cortex was divided in an outer region forming a
medium, and apical regions. For the root, only the very base palisade (Fig. 5), and an inner region composed of large
was used. Samples were fixed with FAA 70 for 72 hours, parenchyma cells and vascular bundles (Fig. 5), constituted
rinsed in water and stored in ethanol 70% (Jensen, 1962). by phloem and xylem, arranged collaterally. Druses
Paradermal sections were taken at the median region of the were rare in the cortex. Large mucilage cells occurred
stem. Transverse and longitudinal sections of stems and throughout the whole cortex (Fig. 6) and pith. Vascular
roots were made by hand. Samples were also embedded bundles occurred also in the pith (Fig. 7).
in polyethylene glycol (PEG) 1500 (Richter, 1985) and At the base of stem, primary phloem was collapsed
transverse and longitudinal sections were made in rotative and in E. rhodotricha caps of sclereids were seen outside
microtome. Root samples of E. rhodotricha were sectioned secondary phloem (Fig. 8). Secondary phloem was
in a sliding microtome. Sections were stained with astrablue composed of narrow sieve tube elements and companion
and safranin and mounted in glycerine 50%. Macerations cells, with simple sieve plate, transverse to slight oblique,
were prepared using a modified Franklin method (Franklin, axial and radial parenchyma.
1945), stained with safranin and mounted in glycerin. Both species had non fibrous wood, mainly composed
The following hystochemical tests were carried out: of wide band tracheids and a few vessel elements,
floroglucyn (Johansen, 1940) to detect lignified secondary surrounded by axial and radial unlignified parenchyma
walls; lugol (Johansen, 1940) to detect starch; for mucilage cells (Figs. 9-11). Wide band tracheids presented ring,
we followed Richter (1977). The analysis was carried out helical or mixed wall thickenings (Fig. 11). Vessel
in a Leica DMLB light microscope, connected to an image elements had simple perforation plates. Both species had
capture system, and a digital camera DC 300F. a storied structure in the non fibrous wood (Fig. 11), being
1038 Garcia et al.- Anatomy of two species of Echinopsis
Figures 1-6. Stem cross sections. 1-2, epidermis covered by a thick cuticle (arrow). Stomata chamber crossed hypodermis. 1,
Echinopsis calochlora. Uniseriate epidermis. Stomata at the same level as ordinary epidermal cells. 2, E. rhodotricha. Scanning electron
micrograph (SEM). Bisseriate epidermis and sunken stomata. 3-4, peridermis with pheloderm composed of layers of parenchyma cells;
cork composed of layers of cells with suberized walls alternating with layers of cells with lignified walls (*). 3, E. calochlora. 4-6,
E. rhodotricha. 5, organization of cortex: hypodermis followed by layers of palisade parenchyma and inner isodiametric parenchyma
cells. Cortical bundles (arrows). 6, cortex. Numerous scattered mucilage cells. Scale bars: 1= 100 µm; 2= 5 µm; 3-4= 200 µm; 5= 500
µm; 6= 250 µm. Cm- mucilage cell; Ep- epidermis; Hp- hypodermis; Pp- palisade parenchyma; St- stomata; Su- suber.
Revista Mexicana de Biodiversidad 83: 1036-1044, 2012
DOI: 10.7550/rmb.28124 1039
Figures 7-12. 7-10, 12, cross sections. 11, tangential section. 7, Echinopsis calochlora. Pith with medullary bundle. 8, E. rhodotricha.
Vascular system. Phloem. Caps of sclereids in the periphery of secondary phloem. 9, E. calochlora. Non fibrous wood mainly composed
of wide band tracheids. 10, E. rhodotricha. Fibrous and non fibrous wood. 11, E. calochlora. Non fibrous wood composed of wide
band tracheids with helical thickenings. 12, E. rhodotricha. Fibrous wood composed of vessel elements, fibres and scanty paratracheal
parenchyma (part of a ray is seen on the left). Scale bars: 7, 9-12= 200 µm; 8= 400 µm. FW- fibrous wood; NFW- non fibrous wood.
1040 Garcia et al.- Anatomy of two species of Echinopsis
Figures 13-20. 13-15, stem secondary xylem; tangential sections. Echinopsis rhodotricha. 13, large rays. 14, simple perforation plate
of a vessel element. 15, incomplete perforation plate of a vessel element. 16-20, root and cross sections (16-19). 20, tangential section.
16-17, E. calochlora. 16, general view; note peridermis composed of several layers of cells with lignified walls alternate with cells
with suberized walls; fibrous wood with large unlignified rays. 17, phloem and xylem. Collapsed phloem (arrows) outside functional
secondary phloem. 18-19, E. rhodotricha. 18, fibrous wood with large unlignified rays. 19, detail of unlignified rays containing starch
grains. 20, E. calochlora tangential sections; septate fibres (arrows). Scale bars: 13= 400 µm; 14-15= 10 µm; 16, 18= 500 µm; 17= 100
µm; 19-20= 200 µm. Co-cortex; P- peridermis; Ph- phloem; R- rays; Xy- xylem
1042 Garcia et al.- Anatomy of two species of Echinopsis
2006; Soffiatti and Angyalossy, 2007): there is a thick The phloem was composed of sieve tube elements
hypodermis composed of several layers of colenchymatic and companion cells, axial and radial parenchyma and
cells, followed by a photosynthetic palisade parenchyma sometimes, non functional phloem might become lignified,
and the inner cortex, composed of isodiametric similar to what was described for several Cactaceae stems
parenchymatic cells. The hypodermis, being a flexible (Mauseth, 1999; Terrazas-Salgado and Mauseth, 2002;
tissue, has important functions in giving support to the Soffiatti and Angyalossy, 2003, Arruda et al., 2005;
stem and accommodating the stem changes in volume due Mauseth, 2006), and roots (Mauseth and Ross, 1988;
to shrinkage and swelling, also protecting the inner tissues Mauseth, 1989). Echinopsis rhodotricha has fibre caps
against pathogens (Gibson and Nobel, 1986). As the stems outside phloem; in E. calochlora they are absent, typical
in most cacti are the main photosynthesizing organ, the of species which have non fibrous wood (Mauseth et al.,
organization of the chlorenchyma or palisade parenchyma 1998).
is very similar to a leaf (Sajeva and Mauseth, 1991). The Echinopsis calochlora and E. rhodotricha present
internal cortex cells store water (Mauseth, 1993b), and the fibrous wood in the roots while in the stems they both
large cells are able to expand and contract depending on have non fibrous wood, corroborating the fact established
hydration state or water availability (Mauseth, 2006). by Mauseth and Stone-Palmquist (2001). These authors
Both species presented cortical and medullary bundles stated that the structure of wood in the stem and root of the
with secondary growth, spread out in all directions very same plant can be very different. Echinopsis rhodotricha
similar to leaf veins. Like leaf veins, they are collateral has also fibrous wood in the stem, characterizing what is
and form a network that extends to the base of the termed dimorphic wood: when young the plant produces
palisade parenchyma. Cortical bundles are considered a one type of wood and later on, the cambium produces
synapomorphy for Cactoideae, present in nearly all species another type (Mauseth and Plemons, 1995; Mauseth and
(Mauseth, 2006). They perform important functions Plemons-Rodríguez, 1998). In the present work, it was
in sugar and water transport to and from cortex cells observed a typical situation in E. rhodotricha: which first
and to the vascular system (Mauseth and Sajeva, 1992; forms non fibrous wood, when the body is young and
Terrazas-Salgado and Mauseth, 2002; Mauseth, 2006). small and does not need special investment in support,
Mauseth (2004) considers that the presence of cortical and when mature, the cambium starts forming fibrous
bundles explains the large volume of cortex, as succulent wood since support is then needed due to the larger size
euphorbias, for instance, do not possess cortical bundles (Terrazas-Salgado and Mauseth, 2002). The fibrous and
and their stems never reach such a large size as cacti. non fibrous wood types observed in the present study have
Medullary bundles have the same function as cortical the same structure as described in literature, with fibrous
bundles, transporting water and nutrients (Mauseth, 1993a, wood composed of vessel elements in a matrix of libriform
2006; Terrazas-Salgado and Mauseth, 2002), occurring fibres, and non fibrous wood composed of vessel elements
only in Cactoideae (Mauseth, 1993a, 2006). According to in a matrix of wide band tracheids (Gibson, 1973; Gibson
Gibson and Nobel (1986) pith diameter increased during and Nobel, 1986; Terrazas-Salgado and Mauseth, 2002;
Cactaceae evolution and this event probably led to the Mauseth, 2006; Soffiatti and Angyalossy, 2009). The only
emergence of medullary bundles. difference between the fibrous wood of the stem and root
In the basal and older regions of the stem, as well as of E. rhodotricha is the presence of the storied structure in
in the root of these 2 Echinopsis species, the epidermis the stem, absent in the root. A noticeable feature observed
is substituted by a peridermis, as noted for many species in the secondary xylem of the stem in both species is the
in the family. The origin of phellogen from periclinal occurrence of a storied structure in the secondary xylem.
divisions of epidermal cells is very common in cacti This feature has been described in the literature for several
(Gibson and Nobel, 1986; Terrazas-Salgado and Mauseth, species of Cactoideae, including E. calochlora, by Gibson
2002; Soffiatti and Angyalossy, 2003; Mauseth, 2006). (1973). This author observed that the rays are rarely storied,
Although the origin of phellogen in a plant organ can be and mentions that the storied structure is more evident in
variable, from different cell types, such as epidermal, specialized growth forms, such as globose and epiphytic
colenchymatic, parenchymatic or even phloematic cells, species. Gibson (1973) also stated that in non fibrous wood
the most common origin is from subepidermal layers it is a difficult feature to distinguish due to differences in
of cells, according to Evert (2006). It was seen in E. the length of vessel elements and wide band tracheids, but
calochlora and E. rhodotricha that phellem in both root this was not the case in the present study. Storied wood is
and stem is composed by layers of suberized cells which a feature that occurs in several phylogenetically unrelated
alternate with layers of lignified cells, also a common groups and it is found in groups where fusiform cambial
feature for species of the family (Mauseth, 2006). initials are shorter (Carlquist, 2001). In the present study,
Revista Mexicana de Biodiversidad 83: 1036-1044, 2012
DOI: 10.7550/rmb.28124 1043
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